Marcus came home from school last Thursday absolutely convinced he'd invented a new life philosophy: making lists of exciting things you're scared to do, then actually doing them. He was so proud of this breakthrough that he started listing wild ideas like "ride a zipline" and "eat ghost peppers." I didn't have the heart to tell him people have been making bucket lists for centuries. But watching him get fired up about pushing his own boundaries reminded me why Get a Life, Chloe Brown resonated so deeply—because sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit you've been playing it too safe and decide to change.
Plot Summary
Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert is the first book in The Brown Sisters series. Chloe Brown is a chronically ill computer geek living with fibromyalgia who creates a "Get a Life" list after a near-death experience. Her list includes riding a motorcycle, going camping, having meaningless sex, and doing something bad. When she moves into her own apartment, she meets Redford "Red" Morgan, the building's tattooed, red-haired superintendent and former artist with his own painful past. After Red rescues Chloe from a tree where she's stuck trying to save a cat, an unlikely friendship forms. Chloe asks Red to help her complete her list, and he agrees. What starts as a practical arrangement becomes something neither of them expected—a deep connection that challenges everything they thought they knew about love, vulnerability, and taking risks.
Why I Love This Book
I love how Get a Life, Chloe Brown handles chronic illness representation with honesty and respect. Chloe's fibromyalgia isn't a plot device—it's part of who she is, and watching her navigate romance while managing pain and fatigue felt authentic. The banter between Chloe and Red is absolutely electric, witty and sharp without ever feeling mean-spirited. Red is a genuinely good man who has been hurt before, and his gentleness combined with his strength made my heart ache. I appreciated how both characters had to work through past trauma and learn to communicate. The consent and boundary discussions were incredibly sexy and realistic. This book balances humor, heat, and heartfelt emotion beautifully.
Who Will Like This Book
If you enjoy contemporary romance with disability representation, grumpy-sunshine dynamics, blue-collar heroes, and smart heroines, you'll love this story. It's perfect for readers who want witty banter, emotional depth, and steamy scenes that feel meaningful. Fans of workplace-adjacent romances (tenant/building super) and friends-to-lovers will eat this up. The book deals with serious themes like chronic illness and past abusive relationships but maintains a hopeful, warm tone throughout.
⚠️ Trigger warning: ableism, past emotional and physical abuse (referenced, not on page between main couple), car accident, chronic illness/pain, explicit sexual content, past toxic relationship, classism, racism (referenced), near-death experience.
Tagged As
contemporary romance, The Brown Sisters series, disability representation, chronic illness, fibromyalgia rep, grumpy-sunshine, friends to lovers, forced proximity, blue-collar hero, building superintendent, computer geek heroine, witty banter, healing from past abuse, consent-focused, explicit, open door, HEA, diverse characters, Black British heroine, tattooed hero, cat rescue, bucket list, emotionally vulnerable MMC
Steam Level
The book features explicit, open-door sex scenes that are integral to the characters' emotional development. The scenes are detailed and steamy, with a strong focus on consent, communication, and mutual pleasure. The sexual content serves the story and deepens the connection between Chloe and Red rather than feeling gratuitous.
